By SUE WUETCHER

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and that means
lake-effect snow is not far behind.

And when the squalls descend and weather conditions become so
severe that UB cannot operate effectively, the university will use
a number of communication channels to inform faculty, staff and
students of a change in scheduled operations resulting in class
cancellations, an early departure or a request that only essential
employees report for work.

The crisis communication plan that is used in the event of an
emergency on campus — such as a fire or gas leak — also
kicks in to inform members of the university community of a change
in scheduled operations due to a severe snow or ice storm.

The key element of the plan is UB Alert, the university’s
official crisis communication vehicle. This system sends emergency
messages to everyone who has a UB “.edu” email address.
UB Alert also sends text messages to cellphones and email messages
to the alternate email addresses, such as a Gmail or Hotmail
account, of those who have signed up to receive these additional
messages. Members of the UB community may sign up via the UB emergency information
website.

UB also will notify the community of a change in scheduled
operations via traditional media outlets — local radio and
television stations — and the 645-NEWS hotline, as well as on
the university’s social media sites, among them UB’s Facebook
page and the UB Alert Twitter feed.

UB officials point out that a decision to cancel classes and
request non-essential employees to stay home is made after
determining local road conditions, the ability of bus service to
provide transportation within and among the campuses, and the
ability to keep the campus roadways and parking lots open.

Once such an announcement has been made, only essential
employees who provide services related to the health and safety of
students, faculty, staff and guests, as well as facility
maintenance and security, are required to report to work.
Supervisors determine and notify those employees who are considered
essential to university operations.

All other employees are expected to stay away from the
university until conditions return to normal.

However, UB officials stress that just because employees are
asked not to report to work does not mean it is a free day off for
those who are not required to work.

Non-essential employees who do not work must charge the time to
personal leave credits, vacation or compensatory time. Anyone who
does not have sufficient accruals may borrow from future
accruals.

Only the governor can officially declare that UB is closed and
only he can authorize employees to remain away from work without
the use of leave credits. In all other cases, a UB employee must
charge this time not worked to vacation, personal leave or
compensatory time.

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